Oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancer is one of the several types of cancer under the head and neck category. As a dentist in Sterling Heights Michigan, Dr. Fadi Farhat offers the following oral cancer statistics. As with any serious health challenge, keeping informed about oral cancer is the first step to prevention and early detection.

For the year 2017, approximately 49,670 people in the U.S. are expected to develop oropharyngeal or oral cancer. From this amount, the expected fatality is 9,700. In 2014 in the U.K., 11,449 cases of cancer concerning the neck and head area were reported. Meanwhile, 2,386 people died from oral cancer during that year.

In 2012, over 300,000 people were diagnosed with cancers involving the oral cavities and lip.

Although it is still a significant amount, studies indicate the death rate has been slowly decreasing over the past three decades.

According to experts, the high death rate is not because the cancer is difficult to diagnose but because the condition is diagnosed during the late stages.

Men are twice more likely to develop this cancer than women.

The likelihood of developing oral cancer is the same for both blacks and whites. However, the rates still vary from one country to another. For instance, the risk of developing oral cancer is higher in the U.S. as compared to Japan and Mexico but lower than in France or Hungary.

The average age of people diagnosed with this type of cancer is 62. However, it is not rare to find young people with this condition. Approximately a quarter of the people with oral cancer are under the age of 55.

At least 75 percent of people diagnosed with cancer are tobacco users. However, studies also show that it takes several decades of tobacco use to develop cancer.

Individuals who are diagnosed with this form of cancer are more prone to developing cancers in nearby areas. This includes the larynx, the esophagus and the lung. Even individuals who are cleared from oral cancer can still develop cancers in other areas. Because of this, patients need to undergo regular follow-up examinations with their doctor for the rest of their lives.

Annually, 35,000 Americans are diagnosed with oral cancer. Of this number, 8,000 people die from the disease.

According to a dentist in Sterling Heights, the number of new cases has substantially increased, especially among people aged below 30 years old, including those who do not belong to high -risk groups. In fact, the Academy of General Dentistry reports that 25 percent of new patients diagnosed with oral cancer do not belong to high-risk groups.

It also does not help that oral cancer often goes undetected for years for the simple reason that its early stages is usually painless. When the disease is detected at a later time, the cancer cells have already spread and the patients often succumb to chronic pain.

Fortunately, the disease can be easily detected through oral cancer screening. And once detected during the early stages, the disease can be successfully treated. In fact, early detection and treatment can lead to a higher survival rate.

Your chance of survival increases

The five-year survival rate among oral cancer patients is 60 percent. That rate increases by at least 20 percent if the disease is detected and treated early.

The screening process is simple

Oral cancer screening can be done during a routine dental checkup. In some instances, your dentist may perform additional tests.

Furthermore, the test does not require any preparation on your part. During the examination, your dentist will check your mouth, looking for signs like red or white patches and/or sores. He or she may also check for lumps and other irregularities.

You do not have to pay for it separately

The screening can be done during a routine dental checkup. This means that you do not have to pay extra to get tested. However, if your dentist recommends follow-up procedures, you will need to pay for these.

A screening can save your life

Oral cancer screening is a must for people who belong into high-risk groups. These include smokers, heavy drinkers of alcohol, people with significant sun exposure, and patients who have been previously diagnosed with oral cancer. Quite simply, you have nothing to lose with an oral cancer screening.

Should your dentist discover signs of oral cancer, you will be asked to come back in a few weeks’ time for a follow-up visit. Your dentist will check if the lesions or other signs detected have changed or grown.

Your dentist may also ask you to undergo a biopsy procedure to confirm the presence of cancer cells. Call your trusted Sterling Heights dentist today!

What to Expect During an Oral Cancer Screening

In order to better take care of your oral health, you need to visit your dentist at least twice a year.

Apart from professionally cleaning your teeth and providing you with excellent advice, your dentist can check your mouth and look for potential problems.

One crucial aspect of a dental exam is an oral cancer screening where your dentist will check your mouth, face, neck and lips for signs of cancer. If you regularly visit your dentist, he or she will be in the best position to notice any irregularities or potential issues. Think of your dentist as your first line of defense against oral cancer.

If you are wearing dentures, your Sterling Heights dentist will ask you to remove these. The reason behind this is because your dentist will need to see your mouth in full.

While you are undergoing the screening process, your dentist will ask you a few questions which will aid him or her in determining whether you have oral cancer or not. Expect to answer questions related to difficulties in swallowing, hoarseness, the presence of lumps on the side of the neck, difficulties in speaking or moving the tongue, and earaches.

The actual procedure begins with your dentist checking your jaws and neck, looking for lumps. Your dentist will then proceed to check your lips and cheeks. Then, your dentist will check your tongue, the roof and floor of your mouth, and the back of your throat. Finally, your dentist will use his or her finger to check for abnormalities on the floor of your mouth.

Who Can Get Oral Cancer?

Contrary to the belief of some people, everyone can get oral cancer. Indeed, some groups like smokers and the elderly are at a higher risk of contracting oral cancer. In recent years, younger people have been getting oral cancer due to HPV infection. In the United States alone, about 43,000 new cases of oral cancer are reported each year.

It is for these reasons that you should ask your Sterling Heights dentist for a screening each time you visit the dental office. Prompt detection can save your life. Plus, the procedure is painless and takes just a few minutes of your time.

Cancer — the dreaded “C” — is something that, unfortunately, a lot of people are acquainted with. Studies reveal that one in three people will likely develop cancer at some point in their life. Cancer cases continue to be on the rise due to a myriad of factors, but the good news is that more and more people are beating cancer than ever before.

However, this doesn’t change the fact that it is a serious concern. People should know as much about it as possible. One of the more prevalent types is oral cancer, and while it is treatable, it can really sneak up on people; this is why everybody should avoid forgoing regular visits to the dentist for oral cancer screening.

Needless to say, oral cancer is a serious medical issue. Here are some oral cancer facts you may be surprised by.

Approximately 48,250 Americans will be diagnosed with oral or pharyngeal cancer this year alone.

Of those 48,250 newly diagnosed individuals, just a little more than half of this number will be alive in five years. This number hasn’t improved significantly much in the last decade.

Surprisingly the death rate for oral cancer is higher than that of other cancers.

If cases of cancer of the larynx will be included in the category of oral cancer, the total number of people with oral cancer in the US alone will rise to 54,000.

In a global scale, over 450,000 new cases are recorded by the WHO each year.

Oral cancers are part of a group of cancers typically referred to as head and neck cancers, and they comprise 85% of the category.

Oral cancer cases that result in death are always due to late detection.

One main obstacle to the early discovery of the cancer is the advent of the virus HPV16. It usually does not manifest common tell-tale signs of cancer such as visible lesions or discolorations.

Oral cancer is particularly dangerous because in its early stages, patients don’t feel anything different in their mouth, says a Sterling Heights dentist. This means it’s given time to progress and become a more serious condition.

Unfortunately, oral cancer is only discovered after it has spread. Prognosis at this stage is more discouraging than when it is caught in a localized intraoral area. Besides the metastasis, during the later stages, the primary tumor has had time to root deeply.

Dr. Farhat is especially passionate about having the technology to provide oral cancer screenings in his Sterling Heights dental office. For more information be sure to schedule an appointment.

Important Dental Signs

Oral cancer is a serious threat and nobody is invulnerable to it (although there are some who are at higher risk of developing it). It’s of utmost importance to see a dentist regularly for a thorough dental examination. Early detection, followed by timely and appropriate treatment, is the most effective method of outworking the disease.

Here are the important dental signs you should not ignore and must see your dentist for right away

Loose teeth with no clear dental cause

Difficulty in chewing, speaking and swallowing

Difficulty in moving your tongue or jaw

Pain in one of your ears without any loss of hearing

Swelling of the gums that makes wearing dentures greatly uncomfortable

Lingering sore throat and hoarseness

Patches of red and white lesions in your mouth or lips

Numbness, pain or tenderness in your mouth, including the tongue

The feeling of a lump in your throat

Sores around your mouth or throat

If you spot or experience any combinations of these important dental signs, set up an appointment with your dentist to establish right away if you’re in the early stage of oral cancer or if you have some other serious dental condition.

What causes oral cancer?

According to the Mouth Cancer Foundation, there’s no known exact cause of oral cancer. There are factors that automatically put certain people at higher risk of developing the disease. Smoking, is always closely linked to oral cancer. Studies reveal that 90% of people who have oral cancer are or were smokers. Smoking introduces harmful chemicals to the body, the autoimmune system suffers, weakening the body’s natural defense system. This combination is an ideal environment for cancer cells to proliferate.

One lifestyle factor that’s linked to oral cancer is the frequent consumption of alcohol. If alcohol is combined with smoking, the risk of developing the disease becomes even higher.

When your diet that’s deficient in nutritious fruits and vegetables is believed to make the disease easier to contract, especially for the aging population experiencing hormonal changes. Ditto with frequent sun exposure – skin cancer can develop on the lips for tanning addicts.

How is oral cancer properly diagnosed and treated?

If your Sterling Heights Dentist suspects cancer in a patient they will recommends a biopsy of the area. With a positive diagnosis, surgery is carried out to treat the affected area. After surgery, radiation and chemotherapy follow to completely obliterate cancer cells.

Outworking oral cancer is all about early detection and timely treatment. Take note of the these warning signs in order to take an active role in preventing this disease for yourself and even the people you love.

Growing Interest In Oral Cancer Screenings

While most cancer of the mouth were previously seemed non threatening to individuals who stayed away from tobacco products and kept an oral health routine more recent studies have shown an increase in oral cancer diagnosis. This diagnosis are not just to patient who smoke regularly but is being found more often in older men who never smoked in their life and even younger women who had no cause for concern in the past. Nearly 100 new oral cancer diagnosis are made each day in the United States alone and close to 24 people die from it a day. That is one person every hour. With these stunning new increases in oral cancer there is more focus being given to oral cancer screenings and examination than ever before.

Most recently it has been an increasing concern that oral cancers have shifted from being primarily in the mouth area to the posterior area as well. Where in the past the number one contributing factor to oral cancers was said to be excessive tobacco and alcohol use. While this is still the biggest concern for anterior oral cancer sexually transmitted diseases are a rising concern that is the leading contributor to the posterior oral cancer.

Contributing Factors To Oral Cancer

Although it is being found that no one is 100% risk free from being diagnosed with oral cancer there are a few factors that can easily increase your chances of a cancer diagnosis. The main contributors include:

Tobacco And Alcohol

While both, tobacco use and excessive alcohol consumption alone can contribute to various mouth cancers when combined they pose an even greater risk to users. Cigarette smoking and alcohol use are one of the top causes for oral cancers.

HPV

The human papillomavirus can be a contributing cause of oral cancer for individuals of any age. This is especially true of patients who are infected with the HPV 16 type.

Age

Studies have shown that oral cancers are more likely to occur as individuals become older. As one gets over the age of 40 their chances of being diagnosed with oral cancer increases.

Sun Exposure

While most believe that excessive sun exposure is only damaging to the skin the lips can also be affected. Lip cancer is a common oral cancer that is caused when an individual gets too much sun exposure.

Poor Diet

Individuals who tend to consume less healthy foods like fruits and vegetables have an increased chance of oral cancer.

While limiting the use and exposure to some of the common contributing factors for mouth cancers can help reduce your risk, no one is immune. It is become such an alarming concern among oral-health professions that most are beginning to urge all patients to have routine orals cancer screening done with their regular dentist check ups. It is equally important to have an oral cancer screening as it is to have a regular breast cancer screening or prostate cancer screening.